Sick Bed TV

I have been holed up in my flat for the past wee while after dislocating my knee during Richard The Third rehearsals. It was disgusting and painful, however it did give me the opportunity to lay on the sofa for a week and enjoy (or not) the new fall line up and the new season premiers.

There was an interesting mix in the new shows this fall. It felt a little more sparse than it has in other years, but that is probably more to do with the fact I only liked a few of them. So here is what I have been watching over the past week and a few of my thoughts on each one..

666 Park Avenue

Number of episodes watched: 1

Initial thoughts: Yes it is as bad as this poster makes it look. This was such a disappointment as with this cast I wanted to be sucked in and freaked out (the way I was with American Horror Story last year) but instead I was just bored. I think I ended up tidying my coffee table!

Will I keep watching: No thanks, I think I will pass.

Arrow

Number of episodes watched: 1

Initial thoughts: First off I think the lead is steamy, but I preferred Justin Hartley as the Green Arrow in Smallville. Secondly I love Katie Cassidy, ever since she strutted into my life in Supernatural, then Harpers Island, then Melrose Place and then Gossip Girl I have been in awe of her. This is why it pained me to say I did not care for Arrow. I am hoping it is just a slow starter and will pick up soon.

Will I keep watching: Yes, for a few more episodes in the hopes it will pick up.

Beauty and the Beast

Number of episodes watched: 2

Initial thoughts: After watching Arrow I didn't have high hopes for the other CW offering. I have never really been a fan of Kristin Kreuk as I think her character was played out a long time before she left Smallville so I was weary. I was surprised that from the start though I was interested and caught up. Now don't get me wrong, this is pure trash TV at its best. At it's core this is a crime drama with the addition of the "Beast" who displays more of a hulk mentality. He is all hot with a scar when he is calm but then totally hulks out when he gets angry. I think I will get tired of this very quickly, but for now it's a bit of fun.

Will I keep watching: Yes, for just now.

Chicago Fire

Number of episodes watched: 1

Initial thoughts: I grew up watching Jesse Spencer as Billy Kennedy in Neighbours, I have a soft spot for him. In Chicago Fire however I thought his accent was awful. This was just the start of my dislike for this programme, I was so bored of the whole thing that I really wanted to turn it off half way through... did I really care if they put the building fire out? I struggled through the whole episode eventually and when the trailer for coming up this season on Chicago Fire came on screen I laughed and turned it off!

Will I keep watching: Not if you paid me!

Emily Owens MD

Number of episodes watched: 1

Initial thoughts: Who does not love Mamie Gummer? I mean she is Hollywood royalty. With Meryl Streep for a mother acting just runs in her veins. There was something about Emily Owens MD that I enjoyed. It felt light a cross between Grey's Anatomy and Scrubs. It was an easy to watch medical drama that was funny and serious at the same time, with hot men to look at. I am looking forward to seeing how it unfolds over the course of the season.

Will I keep watching: I love a good medical drama, so definitely!

Last Resort

Number of episodes watched: 2 

Initial thoughts: The morning after my accident I decided to get up and watch some TV since I could not sleep because of the pain in my leg. I turned on the current episode and my sister watched with me from where she had been sleeping on my other sofa the night before (it was so good of her to stay with me!!). After I caught her up to date on what she needed to know (they were told to bomb Pakistan but now they are being hunted by their own country so they are living on an island and fighting with the local gang) we kept watching and then half way through the episode she managed to sum the whole series so far up in one tidy sentence "this is a stupid show". I will leave it at that

Will I keep watching: No! I can't believe I watched 2 (Even Ben Covington can't save it!)

Made in Jersey

Number of episodes watched: 2

Initial thoughts: I feel a little bit empty when Fairly Legal finishes in the Summer, but this year I had another sparkling legal drama to fill the void. Smart talking New Jersey Girl, Martina, is out of place in the high class New York law firm. She holds her own in a very Legally Blonde way, the sad thing is this has already been cancelled! Oh how the mighty fall.

Will I keep watching: I would if I could, but I can't.

The Mob Doctor

Number of episodes watched: 2

Initial thoughts: I wanted to like this so much as soon as I saw Zach Gilford (Friday Night Light's Matt Saracen). I felt it was just too bogged down in mob politics. Even the lighter story lines running through the episode could not lift it out of just being too heavy and dry for me.

Will I keep watching: Nope, I'm out!

Nashville

Number of episodes watched: 2

Initial thoughts: Y'all, Tami Taylor is back!! Being the massive Friday Night Lights fan that I am, I was so excited to see that Connie Britton was back doing what she does best. This story follows the Country Legend (Britton), the Teen Superstar (Panettere) and the innocent and unsigned singer / songwriter (Bowen). I love this, it is like the series version of Country Strong, with great hair!

Will I keep watching: Oh hell yes!!

Revolution

Number of episodes watched: 5

Initial thoughts: I have already dissected my thoughts on the pilot episode of Revolution here. I still stick by my thoughts that this seems like a YA dystopian story in series form. That and things just seem a little too easy for them. Yes they come across obstacles on their way, but with a little effort they seem easily overcome.

Will I keep watching: Yeah, I still really like it

Animal Practice

Number of episodes watched: 1

Initial thoughts: I actually felt uncomfortable watching this. I was excited that we were going to get more of Justin Kirk after the end of Weeds, but this was just bad. The jokes were bad and predictable and it felt like someone had said to themselves "Do you know what will make this better? A monkey. "

Will I keep watching: No, I am surprised I managed 1 full episode

Ben and Kate

Number of episodes watched: 4

Initial thoughts: I didn't really take to this on the first episode, I was unsure if it was funny or not and thought that Lucy Punch was the best thing in it. I have stuck with it, and happily as the episodes have gone on I have liked this more and more. There is the distinct feeling that some of the characters are being set up to have relationships with each other, but I think that it's a storyline I would enjoy seeing.

Will I keep watching: Yes for the time being.

Go On

Number of episodes watched: 6

Initial thoughts: Matthew Perry I worship you. I have always been disappointed in the past that the series that Matthew Perry has committed to since friends have usually gone on to get cancelled quite quickly (see Studio 60 and Mr Sunshine). Go On has an interesting story, where Perry has joined a support group to help him grieve the loss of his wife. The characters in the support group with him are funny and interesting and I think I love them all (even the weird guy)!

Will I keep watching: Yes, I am sticking with it.

Guys With Kids

Number of episodes watched: 0.5

Initial thoughts: Oh man, this was so bad that I could not even get through the first episode. I don't even think I made it through a half episode. The canned laughter and awful jokes (baby in a bar has been done) and I turned it off about 5 mins in.

Will I keep watching: No, keep it away from me!

The Mindy Project

Number of episodes watched: 3

Initial thoughts: Mindy Kaling is my hero. After watching the first few episodes of this and loving her character (she is just so charming) I went on to pick up Mindy's book (which was also great). In this series, Mindy is a gynecologist who is trying to find love and be an amazing and real woman. It's the little jokes in this that keep me smiling like when she is made to watch the Deadliest Catch and asks "there are episodes of this". This is something we all thing but have never vocalised. This is now the show I get excited about every week.

Will I keep watching: Yes, just try and stop me!

The Neighbors

Number of episodes watched: 1

Initial thoughts: Was someone off their meds when they came up with this one? Aliens landed on the planet 10 years ago and bought a whole gated community to live in. When a new human family moves in next door they have to learn to live with each other... I fell like my IQ dropped just writing that!

Will I keep watching: No, No, No!

The New Normal

Number of episodes watched: 6

Initial thoughts: This so cute and sweet. Goldie (King, who is a fellow Scot!) is trying to run away from her grandmother Jane's (Barkin) controlling and mean ways, taking her daughter with her. When she realises she needs a job she applies to be a surrogate mother for gay couple David and Bryan (Bartha and Rannells). The comedy in this is warm and genuine with my favourite character being the racist, republican and homophobic grandmother.

Will I keep watching: Yes, this will be one I come back to again and again.

Partners

Number of episodes watched: 4

Initial thoughts: This was another one that felt a little bit like it was trying too hard in the first episode, but as the series has warmed it has become a little less "try-hard" and has found it's position. This is about 2 best friends who are joined at the hip and their relationship with each other and their relationships with their partners. It makes me laugh and I am always happy to watch Sophia Bush, Michael Urie, Brandon Routh and David Krumholtz (which is probably good as that is the whole cast!).

Will I keep watching: Yes, for now!

So what have you been watching this season and what are your thoughts?

Running Thoughts: Walking Dead 3x01

I was so excited for the premier of the Walking Dead season 3. After how the last season finished I couldn't wait to find out want was going to happen next. Luckily for me I am not alone in my obsessing and I have a friend who was just as excited. Since we live in different cities I told him I would write notes of my thoughts as I watched so that we could properly discuss the episode in detail after it had aired.

It turned out that we had some of the same exact thoughts so I am going to share them here with you (they are a little weird as they are a little like my stream of conciousness)...

If you have not seen this episode yet, do not read on, lots of spoilers ahead for 3x01

The Walking Dead 3x01 - "Seed"

Silent killing - no one is talking, good plan!
Dude, they gave Carl a gun
Is that a home made silencer?
Gross, dog food
Hey it may be gross but it sill has the word food in the title, no need to throw it away Rick!
Do they not talk to each other at all anymore?
They are modern day Ninjas! Silent and deadly...
A map, good call, but can they not just drive through the zombies?

At least they finally are organised
Democracy is working for them - or Rick is now just a badass!
Lol, Lori is breaking into prison now! 

What an amazing idea. Chain and climbing grips to keep the gate shut - handy things for them to have found.
Is Daryl going to get together with Carol? I hope so for her sake, he is hot!!
Good fighting formation. They have their shiz together. 

Shiz, zombie guards with helmets
Wtf... is that a gas mask? 

Yeah Maggie, get them under their chin.
I can't believe the zombie's face came off with the gas mask.
The first thing I would do now you are in is find the showers. 

Who is the mysterious ninja? I would totally want a samurai sword when the zombies attack

Are those her pets with no arms?
Andrea!!!! What's wrong with her? Flu?
They are pets... Ewww they have no jaws, but that's kind of clever.
OMG Lori might have a zombie baby that eats her from the inside.

I don't like this zombie mother and baby talk
Man Lori looks like crap but no one looks good anymore.
What's wrong with me? I like Hershel this season.
Carl is less annoying this season too, he is finally doing what he is told.
Where are they going? Do they really need to go in the tunnel?

This reminds me of a zombie game I played on the Xbox... Rise of the Nightmares...
Spray painting arrows in the tunnel, great idea, they really are organised
Who killed all these dead zombies? Other zombies?
ZOMBIES RUN RUN RUN
Man they are trapped - this is tense
Shiz, shiz, shiz, I only looked away from the screen for a second... What just happened?
Where did all the zombies go? Do they just wander the halls?
Did they loose Maggie and Glen?
HERSHEL... Noooooo!
He was standing too close to the zombies, he had loads of room, it was stupid. That'll learn him
Shiz, they are going to cut off his leg. Do they have to keep hacking? It's off, you can stop!!

I forget... Is everyone just infected now? Can he potentially survive this?
Where is an iron when you need one? I will be great in an apocalypse, an Iron over a fire would help him.
Frack, cauterise the wound! Have you not seen Idle Hands?
People or zombies? People... Ooh!

I can't wait for next week, my burning questions are -

- Who are those people? This will probably spell trouble for the group!

- What's up with Andrea? I hope she doesn't die!

- Can they survive in the prison?

- Is this the end of Hershal?

Beautiful Creatures Trailer

I have been seeing this trailer on a number of blogs recently. I have not read this book yet, but if the trailer to the film is anything to go by, this is will be the next book I read, it looks really good!! Just in case you have missed the trailer have a look below...

Excited!!!

Beautiful Creatures

A Bad Lip Reading

I stumbled across these on Cuddlebuggery Book Blog and they caused me some weird looks at work when I was laughing out loud! I wanted to share the love and introduce you to the Bad Lip Readings of Twilight and the Hunger Games. I think my personal favourite line is from Twilight "Dude, you slapped a fish..."

You are welcome!

Revolution S01E01: Pilot

After watching the first episode of Revolution last night I felt that I really wanted to get my feelings about it down and share them with you all. I received a text from my fellow TV addict and friend while I was out this evening saying that "OK, Revolution is ace. The Dad from Twilight is amazing!" Scott, I am impressed that you knew he was the Dad from Twilight!! Also a recommendation from Scott is usually a guaranteed win, so I watched it as soon as I was in my front door!

I knew that there was a new TV show coming out that JJ Abrams was involved in, but I had no idea what it was or what it would be about. I have to admit that I have never been a huge fan of Elizabeth Mitchell, so I started off a little bit weary. As soon as all of the electronics shut down however I started to feel the dread building in the pit of my stomach (because lets face it I would last 2 seconds without electricity) and I knew I had to keep watching. Also by this time we had caught a glimpse of Mr Hot Australian Doctor from ER (or him that was in the show with the Cape that no one watched (except for you and me Scott!!)) and there was no way I was turning it off, I had to know if he survived... did he get hit by a rogue plane falling from the sky?

Tracy Spiridakos

So we know that this is set 15 years after the blackout which gives all of the characters time to find their place in this new society. Quickly we are introduced to the main character who is an adventurous, risk taking girl, who is reminiscent of some of my favourite YA heroines. I could see elements of Tris from Divergent in the character of Charlie, who is played by Tracy Spiridakos. This character seems totally flawed in that she is a bit flighty, emotional and a bit of a bitch to her Dad's girlfriend... I like her. She has been given the weighty task of traveling to Chicago to find her Uncle who in turn will help to find her brother who has been kidnapped by the militia.

This is a fairly simple sounding task, but in a world where society's have crumbled and we are left with a certain lawlessness that is reminiscent of Deadwood, this is a daunting task. My one annoyance about the pilot episode was how little bother they had travelling from their little village to a heavily populated city. Even in Firefly, where there was some semblance of a governing body, making a trip across SPACE (I mean there is loads of it) was really risky. Also we all know growing up with ANY of the versions of Robin Hood that there are, travelling through the forest is dangerous, they hide in the bushes... I'm not sure who, just gangs of outlaws. Also I'm not good at geography, and it seemed at the beginning that they might live close to Chicago, but they got there very fast. A couple of days and they were there, around all the obstacles like flooded lakes, roads broken and unusable due to disrepair and broken bridges. It seemed like and easy journey, if it was going to be so east why had no one gone before now?

You're Welcome!

With all this said I loved it, there was the dystopian society where everyone is back to the dark ages and the storyline of fighting for your family's honor,. I also did not mind Billy Burke's awesome and crazy re-enaction of The Bride fighting the Crazy 88 in Kill Bill. He is a total badass with a sword. Oh yeah, there were also the scenes with Billy Burke in candle light and Billy Burke making some kind of moonshine... he is my kind of man!!

I am looking forward to seeing where the story goes next now that we are set up ready to get stuck in to some good plot arcs. I certainly already have some questions I want answered and I am sure there will be more as this goes on. I hope the rest of the series lives up to the pilot.

Review: Airhead by Meg Cabot

Title: Airhead
Author: Meg Cabot
Published: 13th May 2008
Publisher: Point
Series: Airhead #1
Source: Own Copy

EM WATTS IS GONE.
Emerson Watts didn’t even want to go to the new SoHo Stark Megastore grand opening. But someone needed to look out for her sister, Frida, whose crush, British heartthrob Gabriel Luna, would be singing and signing autographs there—along with the newly appointed Face of Stark, teen supermodel sensation Nikki Howard.

How was Em to know that disaster would strike, changing her—and life as she’d known it—forever? One bizarre accident later, and Em Watts, always the tomboy, never the party princess, is no longer herself. Literally.

I have had this book sitting in my TBR pile for so long. I'm not sure initially why I didn't pick it up, but recently I was looking for something easy going and light hearted, this book checked all the boxes for me. This is the story of Emerson Watts who, after being involved in a fatal accident, finds herself waking up as teen supermodel Nikki Howard.

Emerson Watts is such a likeable character that you can't help sympathising with her. OK so she is now living life as Nikki Howard, teen supermodel who is rich and fabulous, but you can't help but think it's not all it appears to be. We get a good sense early on that Em is not the kind of girl who fawns over celebrity and would much rather be playing a computer game or watching a documentary than doing her nails or putting on a face mask. So living a life where she has to worry about buffing her lips and waxing is difficult for her and this collision of cultures makes for some very funny situations.

The basic premise of this story, and the whole trilogy, is a mystery revolving around the big bad, The Stark corporation, and why Em Watts is now Nikki Howard. The mystery is never taken to "out there" proportions however there was a good dose of the unexpected to keep you on your toes.

This book is full of humour. It's not too thought provoking or groundbreaking, but it is fun. I read it really quickly, in only a couple of hours. This was my first Meg Cabot book and I think it will be the start of a beautiful friendship / fangirl - author relationship.

I am still here, I swear!!

Hello, is anyone still out there? I have been very absent recently, not because I don't love you all, I have just been really busy and something was going to suffer... well a few things suffered, but let's not dwell on all of the things I've not got round to doing in the past few months.

So you may well ask what I have been doing to keep myself so busy. What an excellent question, and one I was hoping you wouldn't ask!!

After a very successful run as assistant director on Six Degrees of Separation, I was approached to be AD on another two projects. The first of which was Nobody Will Ever Forgive Us which ran for a week in the Edinburgh Fringe.

Nobody Will Ever Forgive Us

"I was in this very room at my wits' end when I heard buzzing and there was a wasp trying to get out of that window. You know how I can't stand wasps. So I opened the window as wide as I could but it just kept bumping up and down the glass...How could it comprehend me, whose brain is hundreds of times the size of its whole body? How do you know you're not bumping against the glass?"
A family thrown together with a secret they'd rather forget.
So Dad drinks. Mum and daughter Cath pop pills. Their youngest son, Patrick, finds god. And their youngest son, Johnny, finds snooker.

But when the secrets are dug up, there's nowhere to hide.
Premiered at the Traverse in 2008 and written by leading Scottish actor turned writer, Paul Higgins, Nobody Will Ever Forgive Us is a darkly comic look at a family under siege.
In an endles quest for meaning, where do you turn when you can't forgive yourself?

We were over the moon to find out that, not only did this play go down really well, but we won an award for it!! Yay! You can read about us winning the "Spirit Of The Fringe Award" here.

My next project (which may be my last so I can rest) will be Richard III set in the 1930's. Work has only just started on this and I am finding it all very exciting. I will keep you updated on this as we make progress.

The other thing taking up my time over the last few weeks was a well needed holiday to Barcelona. Me and my amazing best friend (commonly referred to as my wife!) spent 10 days splitting our time between visiting friends in Barcelona and laying on the beach in Salou. We were lucky visiting our friend in Barcelona while the Gracia Festival was in full swing. This is where the streets of Gracia are decorated and all compete to be the best. There is also live music at night with different bands playing in every street and mojitos being served out of the windows of the bars until the wee hours of the morning. I think we called it a night (or passed out) a little after 4am. To see some pictures you can check out my best friend Bug's website at Style over Sense, or check out the ones I have posted below.

Catch up with you all soon!!

Me and my BFF